Middle School Years 6-9

Middle School develops “Breadth and Depth”

Whilst Year 7 is a year when Bialik welcomes significant numbers of new students, entry to Middle School at Bialik starts at Year 6.

The College recognises that adolescence is a period of dramatic personal and social change which is why Mr Ian Poyser, The Head of Middle School, is also the Assistant Principal–Pastoral Care. The atmosphere of community and support is very strong in the Middle School, a function that is particularly supported by the Year Level Coordinators.

The Middle School curriculum is deliberately flexible, enabling students the time to delve more deeply into topics in which they become engaged and to take more responsibility for their learning as they progress from Year 6 through to Year 9.

Bialik’s acclaimed Year 8-9 ETGAR (Challenge) program is an avenue for students to gain important life skills, as well as to get involved with Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World). Students spend one term engaged in community service and three terms exploring options as varied as aquatics, building a business, Barista and Café training, Masterchef and robotics. The students’ innovative projects and interesting involvement in community programs features regularly in College News – Etgar

Recognising the importance of integrating technology into learning, the Middle School 1:1 Notebook program ensures each student from Year 6 onwards, is equipped with a laptop.

Middle School students enjoy camps at Mount Buller and Wilson’s Promontory as well as a Canberra experience. Year 9 students have two very differences throughout the year. In Term 1 they experience Entrepreneurship, where they visit the Melbourne CBD, Creative Cubes in Richmond and other start up businesses in Cremorne. Term 3 gives Year 9’s the unique opportunity to attend Zionist Camp, immersing themselves in exploring their Zionist identity and issues facing Israel today.

Year 8 Camp February 2015 – Mount Buller written by a Year 8 student

On Feb 17, Year 8 embarked on a 3 hour bus ride to their camp destination, Mount Buller. We stayed in an awesome Ski Lodge and this was our base for four days. From the minute we arrived, it was all excitement and fun times. Each class embarked on a night camping in tents on the mountain at Howqua Hut which was part of a 20 kilometer Mountain bike ride, which involved riding the famous Delatite track.

As dark approached we sat around the camp fire eating meals we had prepared and cooked ourselves. The next day, we continued our descent down the mountain and through the wet forest. The ride tested all of us and for a few, it was a painful journey with stumbles and falls along the way, but the feeling of achievement when we reached the bottom was amazing. The food was getting better and better and just to top off the lot, the lodge featured a pool table, mountain views, a movie theatre and an apple TV.

As well as our structured activities that involved Orienteering, A trip to the Buller CFA and the walk to the Summit of Buller, we had plenty of free time in which to just chill and socialize and this helped us in getting to know each other even more. Night time activities with chocolate cake and ice-cream really was the ultimate way to finish a long day. On the very last day, we walked up the mountain to the summit. The view into the valleys below were outstanding and the flashbacks still last until today. Year 8 camp was a blast with the right mix of entertainment and fun with great learning experiences and personal challenges as well.